Release Detail

February 18, 1999 - New Yorkers Divided On Religious Charter Schools,
Quinnipiac College Poll Finds;
Back New 2nd Avenue Subway, But Not If It Raises Taxes

By large margins, New York City voters are not satisfied with the quality of public schools
and support the idea of charter schools, but they are divided on whether religious groups
should run charter schools, according to a Quinnipiac College Poll released today.

By a 76 - 14 percent margin, voters are not satisfied with the quality of public schools
city-wide and by a 56 - 30 percent margin, they are not satisfied with schools in their
neighborhood. New Yorkers who have children in public schools are not satisfied with their
local schools, 58 - 39 percent.

A total of 56 percent of New Yorkers favor strongly or favor somewhat allowing
government-funded charter schools, while 35 percent oppose somewhat or oppose strongly.

New Yorkers split 47 - 46 percent on whether religious groups should be allowed to
run charter schools.

"There's an ethnic split on the question of religious-run charter schools: White voters
oppose the idea 53 - 38 percent, while Black voters support the idea 61 - 34 percent and
Hispanic voters support the idea 54 - 39 percent," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac College Polling Institute.

"There's no division when we ask people if they're satisfied with public schools. Just
about everyone says no. In a March 31, 1997,Quinnipiac College Poll, New Yorkers were
split 40 - 41 percent when asked about their local schools, the schools they knew. Now they
are dissatisfied, almost 2 -1, with their local schools."

A total of 49 percent of New Yorkers favor extending the school day, while 47 percent
are opposed; 53 percent favor extending the school year, while 46 percent are opposed.

"New Yorkers are not satisfied with the schools so there's no great support for more of
a bad thing," Carroll said.

A total of 31 percent of voters say New York's subways are good or very good, while
39 percent say they are fair and 22 percent say they are bad or very bad. Asked how often
they use the subways:

28 percent say every day;

14 percent say five or six days a week;

15 percent say one to four days a week;

18 percent say a few days a month;

14 percent say a few days a year;

10 percent say never.

Asked to rate the subway service they actually use, 40 percent say good or very good,
while 40 percent say fair and 20 percent say poor or very poor.

In a November 13, 1995, Quinnipiac College Poll, 31 percent rated their subway line
good or very good, while 38 percent said fair and 30 percent said bad or very bad.

By a 78 - 13 percent margin, New Yorkers support the idea of creating a new Second
Avenue subway line. Asked if they support the new line if they have to pay additional taxes
for it, the idea fails 45 - 50 percent, but wins 54 - 40 percent in Manhattan.

All New Yorkers favor 57 - 40 percent improving the subways they use, even if it
means paying higher taxes.

"The stereotype that New Yorkers hate the subways they ride doesn't hold up.
Straphangers' attitudes have improved noticeably," Carroll said. "There's a big 6 -1 vote in
favor of a new Second Avenue line, but that drops when we start talking about paying for it."

From February 10 - 15, Quinnipiac College surveyed 881 New York City residents
who say they are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percent. The
Quinnipiac College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data: www.quinnipiac.edu

11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mayor Giuliani is handling
education?

12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Governor Pataki is handling
education?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school

Approve 32% 34% 23% 37% 30%

Disapprove 50 45 61 49 56

DK/NA 18 21 16 15 14

25. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in
New York City, or are you not satisfied?

Have kids in Mar 31
Tot Wht Blk His public school 1997

Yes/Satisfied 14% 13% 12% 18% 23% 12%

No/Not satisfied 76 73 83 75 75 77

DK/NA 11 15 6 7 2 11

26. Are you generally satisfied with the quality of the public schools in your
neighborhood, or are you not satisfied?

Have kids in Mar 31
Tot Wht Blk His public school 1997

Yes/Satisfied 30% 37% 21% 33% 39% 41%

No/Not satisfied 56 44 71 62 58 40

DK/NA 14 20 8 5 3 19

27. Are you generally satisfied with the physical condition of the public
schools in your neighborhood, or are you not satisfied?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school

Yes/Satisfied 33% 40% 19% 33% 39%

No/Not satisfied 56 44 74 62 59

DK/NA 11 16 7 5 2

28. Do you favor or oppose extending the school day? Is that strongly or
somewhat?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school

Favor strongly 30% 22% 40% 33% 32%

Favor smwht 19 23 11 20 15

Oppose smwht 20 23 19 16 15

Oppose strongly 27 27 30 30 35

DK/NA 4 5 1 2 3

29. Do you favor or oppose extending the school year? Is that strongly or
somewhat?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school

Favor strongly 32% 26% 39% 31% 30%

Favor smwht 19 21 15 21 17

Oppose smwht 17 18 14 17 16

Oppose strongly 29 28 31 30 38

DK/NA 4 6 1 1 -

32. The State Legislature recently passed a law that permits charter schools.
Charter schools are government funded schools, that are run by groups or
organizations instead of the local board of education. Do you favor or oppose
having charter schools in New York City? Is that strongly or somewhat?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school

Favor strongly 31% 28% 38% 29% 28%

Favor smwht 25 25 23 26 23

Oppose smwht 12 12 14 11 13

Oppose strongly 23 25 17 24 26

DK/NA 9 10 8 10 10

33. Do you think religious groups should or should not be allowed to run
charter schools?

Have kids in
Tot Wht Blk His public school
Yes/Should be
allowed 47% 38% 61% 54% 51%

NO/Should not be
allowed 46 53 34 39 40

DK/NA 7 8 6 6 9

34. In general, how would you rate the quality of the New York City Subways?
Very good, good, fair, poor or very poor?

Tot Manhattan Boroughs

Very good 4% 4% 4%

Good 27 36 24

Fair 39 39 39

Poor 13 11 14

Very poor 9 5 10

DK/NA 8 6 8

35. About how often do you use the New York City subways?

Tot Manhattan Boroughs

Every day 28% 31% 28%

Five or six days a
week 14 20 13

One to four days a
week 15 21 13

A few days a month 18 14 19

A few days a year 14 8 15

Never 10 5 12

DK/NA - - -

35a. (If use subways) How would you rate the quality of the New York City
subways that you use? Very good, good, fair, poor or very poor?

36. There is a proposal to create a new subway line under Second Avenue in
Manhattan, increasing service to Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.
Do you favor or oppose the creation of this new subway line?

Tot Manhattan Boroughs

Favor 78% 76% 79%

Oppose 13 16 13

DK/NA 8 8 8

37. (If favor or DK/NA in Q36) Suppose you would have to pay additional taxes
for this new line. Would you favor or oppose the creation of this new
subway line?

Tot Manhattan Boroughs

Favor 45% 54% 42%

Oppose 37 24 41

Oppose in Q36 13 16 13

DK/NA 5 6 5

38. Would you favor or oppose improving the subways that you use, if it meant
that you would have to pay additional taxes?